Earth spillage preventer and deflector for scrapers



June 6, 1950 R. G. LE TOURNEAU 2,510,895

EARTH SPILLAGE PREVENTER AND DEFLECTOR FOR SCRAPERS Filed Feb. 20, 1948 Patented June 6, 1950 UNl'lED STATES PATENT OFFICE EARTH SPILLAGE PREVENTER AND DEFLECTOR FOR SCRAPERS Application February 20, 1948, Serial No. 9,758

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to an earth working scraper of the carry-type.

In such a scraper there is a front end loading bowl which includes a bottom having a digging blade on its front edge, upstanding sides, and a normally retracted but forwardly movable rear end gate to discharge a load from the bowl over the blade.

Under certain working conditions, as where the earth is sticky or gummy, the dug earth sometimes flows, fom the blade, as a ribbon which enters the bowl and then continues over the top of the rear endgate, being thus lost from the load. Under certain other soil conditions, spillage over the rear endgate may also occur.

It is an object of the present invention to pro-,- vide a structure on the bowl to prevent the aforesaid spillage over the rear endgate, and to deflect the earth, which tends to over-ride said gate, into the bowl for retention therein with the load.

Another object of the invention is to provide an earth spillage preventer and deflector which is mounted on the bowl in overhanging relation to its rear end portion, and above the path of forward motion of the rear endgate.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an earth spillage preventer and deflector, as in the preceding paragraph, which comprises a hood-like grille which assures of efiective breaking up of any flow or ribbon of earth tending to spill over the rear endgate; the grille upstanding from the bowl and being forwardly open, transversely concave on the under side, and decreasing in height from front to rear.

A further object of the invention is to produce a practical earth spillage preventer and deflector for scrapers, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the followin specification and claim.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a longitudinal elevation, mainly in section, of an earth scraper, of the carry type, embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking at the hood-like grille from the forward end.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the grille, illustrating the manner of its mounting at one end to the adjacent parts of the scraper bowl.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the invention is here shown as embodied in a scraper, of carrytype, which includes a front end loading bowl, indicated generally at I. The bowl I includes sides 2, a bottom 3 having a transverse digging blade 4 on its forward edge, and a rear wall in the form of a. normally retracted but forwardly movable rear endgate 5 adapted to discharge a load from the bowl over the blade 4. The bowl I additionally includes, in connection therewith, a vertically movable front endgate or apron, indicated diagrammatically at 6.

The bowl I is supported, at its rear end, by a frame structure I which carries transversely spaced rear wheels 8, while the forward end of the bowl is vertically adjustably supported in the scraper assembly by means including transversely spaced, forwardly projecting lift arms 9. To the above described bowl there is secured the earth spillage preventer and deflector, which comprises the following structural arrangement.

A hood-like grille, indicated generally at I0, is mounted in overhanging relation to the rear end portion of the bowl, and above the path of forward motion of the rear endgate 5. Such hoodlike grille Ill upstands from the bowl and is forwardly open, transversely concave on the under side, and decreases in height from front to rear; all as clearly shown in the drawings.

The grille III comprises a plurality of arcuate, transversely extending bars II, some of which are welded to the top beams I2 of the sides 2, as at I3, while others of said bars are welded, as at I4, to diagonal braces I5 which extend from the top beams I2 to the top cross beam I6 at the rear of the scraper directly above the retracted position of the endgate 5.

The bars I I are disposed parallel to each other and are spaced apart some distance; the assembly of such bars being stabilized and rigidified by a central longitudinal bar I'I welded thereto, as at I8.

When the scraper is in operation, with the blade 4 lowered into ground engagement, earth flows over said blade into the bowl I. Under certain working conditions, the consistency of the earth is such (sticky or gummy) that it flows much like a ribbon into the bowl, and this ribbon frequently tends to spill over the endgate 5 and top cross beam I6, resulting in partial loss of the load.

Also, under other working conditions there may be load loss in a similar manner, as for example when the bowl is heaped high with earth.

The hood-like grille II'I acts to prevent spillage of earth from the bowl over the rear endgate 5 and top cross beam I6. If the earth tends to 3 ribbon into the bowl, and to flow upwardly at the rear thereof, such earth strikes the grills III; the grille breaking up the flow and deflectin the earth downward into the bowl for retention with the load.

By reason of the described shape of the grille it does not interfereiniany wawwitli normal load; ing of the bowl, but acts' in an auxiliaiy capacity to assure against rear end load spillage and resultant loss of scraper efficiency,

From the foregoing descriptiondt-will-bereadily seen that there has been produceda-suchia-de vice as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in" detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such:detai1 may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined" the appended claim.

flaving thuse described; the? invention, the; following: is; claimed- 35. 1163 and, useful; and: upon which Letters Patentaare desiredr A. spillage: preventing-=- hoodi forthe rear end portion of a scraper bowl having spaced side frame members at the top; said hood comprising a plurality of bars extending transversely between said members and spaced lengthwise of the bowl forwardly from the rear end thereof; the bars being curvedly arched with the radius of curvaturedecreasing progressively from the rearmost barforwardly whereby the hood is higher at its front end than at its rear end for unobstructed dirt entry and the bars form staggered steps-for breaking-up engagement with the flow of 'dil't passing into the hood.

ROBERT G. LE TOURNEAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file= of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name-- Date 7353257- I-Iodgins Aug. 4,- 1903 2,063,698 Roe Dec. 8, 1936 2,261;233. Dausman Nov. 4, 19141 2,383,978 Le Tourneau- Sept. 4, 1945' 

